DeWitt, NY – The trial of seven protesters arrested in April during a protest at the New York Air National Guard's base at Hancock Field will begin Tuesday evening in the Town of DeWitt Court, the Syracuse Peace Council said in a press release.

Thirty-eight people were arrested in April when they took part in a protest of the MQ-9 Reaper drones flown remotely by the 174th Fighter Wing based in Syracuse.

The protesters are accused of disorderly conduct. Obstruction of justice charges filed earlier have been dropped.

The trial begins at 5 p.m. at the Town of DeWitt Court, 5400 Butternut Drive.

A coalition of groups will hold a support vigil for the protesters from noon to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Federal Building plaza in Syracuse. The group also will hold a peace outreach from 4-4:30 p.m. just outside Hancock Field’s main entrance.

The action is sponsored by the Upstate NY Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, a coalition of activists from Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and Utica.